The college pill: tool of domination
and control

		A Culture  of Life  Fr. Eric Nielsen

People, and men in particular, love to manipulate and control the world around them. It seems that few things give us more pleasure than the ability to dominate something and force it do exactly what we want.

Take modern agriculture where every year some of the same tracts of land are stripped clean of all growing vegetation in order that they may be planted, fertilized, and herbicized to grow only a genetically designed product at just the right time.

We do the same thing to the fertility of young women, when at the slightest cause we give them medication so that their bodies will do only what we want them to do when we want it to happen.

Medical orders

It is amazing how many young women show up for the first year of college on the pill because of doctor's orders. The prescription for being on the pill is medical, but there is a very clear hidden message: "We have given you perfect control over your fertility; you can now have sex at college without any need for commitment."

True, there are some women who yearn for this type of sexual liberation. Sex within the context of a permanent spousal relationship is not all that important, and if the contraceptive fails, which happens often enough, an abortion will be an unfortunate but realistic consequence.

Most women, however, would not describe themselves in that fashion, but by being on the pill as she leaves home a young woman may find it easier to slide in that direction.

Ready for commitment?

Most young men are good guys, with great potential, but not quite ready to make a serious commitment. Still, they feel ready to date, and if a college aged man finds himself enough times alone with a girlfriend who has no fear of pregnancy, things can happen.

And it is unfortunate, because this sexual promiscuity often corrupts what may have been a deepening interpersonal relationship leading to a very good marriage. But now, as the sin of fornication has entered in, selfishness, the desire for pleasure, and the will to control gradually take over.

Taking its toll

For the young woman, three or four years of this can take its toll. By her senior year, even limited promiscuity can leave a good hearted woman feeling empty and out of touch with her better desires.

Meanwhile the side effects of the pill could leave her somewhat overweight, depressed her libido, given her a higher risk for breast cancer, and prematurely aged her reproductive system. Who would ever want that for their daughter?

Mercy of God

Fortunately, God is very merciful, and many are able to right themselves by turning to the Lord, asking for forgiveness, and beginning a new life of virtue. Many eventually find this in their marriage. But many don't, and some of them seem to be doing fine because they have buried their hurt very deeply within them. And what favors are we doing for our young men by allowing them to gratify their sexual desires without any real commitment or responsibility?

We should never put our daughters on the pill except for the most unusual medical necessity. A good pro-life doctor can tell you the difference. Whatever may be gained in short term comfort and control will very easily be lost in the physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences of a sexual relationship that lacks the necessary commitment and responsibility that marriage requires.

Fr. Eric Nielsen is pastor of St. Paul Parish on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. This column is syndicated by www.OneMoreSoul.com